Sir.—Having participated in the recently completed MEDITEL study alluded to by Swender et al in the June issue of the Journal (127:859, 1974), I would like to emphasize the worth of the system as an educational tool, solely on the basis of its ability to remind one of diagnoses not initially considered. It is true that the diagnostic possibilities listed by the system are often ludicrous (as high as 75 in one chart I reviewed), but most of those that are nonapplicable can be easily excluded.

The system is sufficiently complex so that if a secretary is to compile the data base, she must be extremely well-versed in medical terminology.

It is difficult to suggest, at this time, that patients or a third-party system should pay for the MEDITEL system, based on its worth in administering health care; however, it should be feasible for grants or scholarships to cover